Air filtering and moisture separating device



April 19, 1949.

A. L.. sEMoN 2,467,408

AIR FILTERING AND MOISTURE SEPARATING DEVICE 1 Filed March 8, 1948 k ma n Patented Apr. 19, 1949 AIR, FILTERING AND MOISTURE SEPARATING DEVICE Albert L. Semen, Short Hills, N. J.

Application March 8, 1948, Serial No. 13,615

13 Claims. l

This invention relates to devices mounted in air supply conduits of pneumatically operated tools and the like for filtering the air and separating and removing moisture and other foreign matter therefrom to prevent undue wear and possible destruction of the pneumatically operated tools.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character which is inexpensive to manufacture and readily taken apart for purpose of cleaning or replacing the parts thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device wherein moisture and other foreign matter is separated and removed from the air by a baliie and the moisture freed air directed toward a ltering element by a second baffle lwhich also prevents said air from picking up previously removed moisture and other foreign matter.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drainage outlet in the bottom of a moisture collecting chamber of the device having an inlet portion extending in a horizontal plane and an outlet portion extending at a right angle to the inlet portion through the wall of the chamber.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description of the invention.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is an elevational o View of the device constituting the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the device.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows to show air discharge orices and the rst baiile for separating and removing moisture from the air.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view show- :Ing the structure of a modified bafe for separating and removing moisture from the air.

An air ltering element and moisture separating bailes constituting the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing are housed in a casing including a head 5 having a boss 6 integral with and extending diametrically of the top thereof. One end 'l of the boss is arranged with internal screw threads for the engagement of a pipe section connected to a source of supply of air pressure, such as an air compressor, not shown. The boss end l constitutes an air inlet port of the head and communicates with a passage 8 in the boss leading to an internally screw threaded boss 9 depending from the diametrical center of the bottom of the head. The opposite end lil of the boss 6 is also internally screw threaded for the engagement of a pipe section connected to a pneumatically operated tool. The boss end I0 constitutes an air outlet port of the head and communicates with an opening ll in thev bottom of the head on one side of the boss 9. The passage 8 is separated from the boss end lll by a wall l2 merging with a portion of the boss 9, as shown in Figure 2.

The bottom of the head 5 is arranged with an annular seat I3 for the engagement of the edge of an open end of a receptacle I4 having a iiange l5 at said open end for the engagement of a ring I5. The ring I6 is releasably connected to the head 5 by screws ll engaged in ears or projections IB extended laterally from and equidistantly spaced around the head and screw threaded in ears or projections I9 extended laterally from the ring I5 in corresponding relation to the ears i3. The bottom of the receptacle is curved inwardly to a centerhorizontal portion 2l), as shown in Figure 2. The receptacle It may be made of suitable transparent material, such as glass or plastic, whereby the operation of the device is readily observed.

The air entering the inlet ls delivered to an intermediate portion of the receptacle lll through a. tube 2l having one end portion mounted in the boss 9 by the screw threads thereof. The opposite end of the tube is externally screw threaded and adapted to discharge the air in a plurality of streams of air radially from the tube toward the side wall of the receptacle at a high velocity. This is accomplished by a nozzle member having a tubular end portion 22 externally screw threaded and of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the tube 2l and an enlarged in-termediate portion 23 arranged with a plurality of orifices 24 extending radially from and in communication with the bore of the tubular end portion 22 extended into the intermediate portion 23. The diameter of each orifice is greatly reduced in comparison with the diameter of the bore of the tube 2l, so that the velocity of the air being discharged through the orices is increased. The opposite end portion of the nozzle member is a solid depending portion 25 having a screw threaded recess 26 extending into the end thereof for a purpose to be described.

The nozzle member 22-26 is mounted o-n the free end of the tube 2l by a coupling member 2l' internally screw threaded for engagement on the free end of the tube 2l and the tubular end portion 22 of the nozzle member, as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The radial streams of air discharged through the orices 2d impinge against the side wall 28 of a cup shaped baffle having the closed end or bottom wall 29 arranged with a center opening to engage the baille on the tubular end portion 22 of the nozzle member. Said bailie is secured to the nozzle member with the side wall 28 spaced from the side wall of the receptacle lll by clamping the bottom wall 29 against the enlarged nozzle moisture and other foreign matter on said side 5 wall 28 and the separation of the moisture and other foreign matter from the air which flows through the open end 30 of the baille. "Toincrease the amount of moisture and other foreign "matter separated and removed from the air, the freefend of the side wall 28 of the baille is curvedinwardly to form an annular collectingbasin'3I,as'shown in Figure 2. The moisture collected in thebasin drains through the open end 30 into the curved bottom portion of. the. receptacle. -I4.

`Moisture freed air leavingfth baille through the open end- 3D' thereofA is .directed in-an.upwa1d. direction through'fthe space between. the ba'iileside wall 28 and theA side wall .of i the receptacle II4 and is prevented frornpicking A11p..rnoistui:e=in the bottom ofthe receptacle I4 by asecond.baiile 3-2 of plate. formv having Vtheperipheralportionl extended in a downward oblique direction, .as :at 33, and securedto. the depending .nozzle-portion 25 by a screw 34 engaged in a center opening. .in

`the baille .32 and .the screw threaded.recess.26

.the collectingbasin 3l. tothe bottom ofthe casing receptacle I4.

-The moisture `freed. ain-flows. from the space between the baille side Wa11'28.and .the side .wall

of the receptacle I4 through va cylindrical filtering element 35 supported between the head 5 and the cup. shaped: .baille by .engaging the i upper end' of said ltering element in' an annularV seati36 `in .the bottom of the head encircling 4the-boss .Bifand opening I I and thellower end ofthe ltering-.elementengaging the baillebottomwall 29. Asthe bottom end of the filtering element-35 Vis closedfby the baflletwallf29, .the moisture freed-andfltered airwill ilow throughtheopening- II to the-outlet I of thehead `andthe.pneuma'tically operated tool. The ltering element-35 removes yallooreign matter not separated and removed lfrom theair by the baille r2-8--3I. The ilow'of air through" the device is indicated by arrows in Figure2.

\ Figure 4 shows amodied formwof 'the :"cup shaped baffle 28-3I comprisingalclosedsendror bottom wall 31 and a side wall 38 having the free end portion curved to arcuate formnto forman annular collecting basin39 to assurefcollectinglf ally moisture' separated from they air; and the'c'ollected moisture is drained into the bottom of the receptacle I4 through'` an elongated'drain'opening 40 in theilowermost'portion of the basin 39. The modied formof cup: shaped baille 31MB is mountedonthe nozzle'member 22-26sin the same manneras thecup'shaped baiile1'28-3I The tube 2I',nozzle member 22-26; andbaiiles 28-3I or `3'I--4Il and 32, 33"'are assembled'V and mounted on the casing head prior to themounting of the casing receptacle I4 von'said head.

The lower portion 20 of the receptaelesllis providedwith a drain opening comprisingfa'. cap yshaped member 4I-having the skirt portion :internally and externally :screw threaded andengaged in anopeningin said receptacle portion ZIJwith the endof the' skirt projectngfrom'the exteriorofnsaid receptacle portion.V and,y a horizontal passages .extending intoaiside.ofthe head of the cap member andicommunicating'with theinterior. of the-'skirt-portion The `uapmember 4I is secured to the receptacle portion 20 by a nut 43 engaged on the external screw threads of the projecting end of the skirt portion in abutyting relation .to the exterior 1,. of the receptacle `portion 20. The.collected :moistureiflows down the curved wall of the bottom of the receptacle iI'4 and into the passage 42 and interior of the skirtportion of the cap member. The passage 42;is:normally closed by a valve in the form of a"`stem"44 having a beveled end 45 to engage the juncture-'between the passage 42 and the interior of the.skirt portion of the cap member and car- 'rid"'by"a"knob"46 adjustably engaged with the internal*y screw threads of the skirt portion of the cap member 4I. The knob 46 is adjusted to move the. beveled stem.end45` from the passage 42 to :permit the flow of moisture y to .a chamber 41 formed. inthe. skirt.-.portion.V of the cap member `4I .by .theknob46. .When .it is desired -to` comfpletely `drainthe receptacle I4, .the -knob 46 is removedl fromthe cap.y member 4 I.

Having thus described my inventiom claim:

. 1..In lan air illter` and. moisture4 separator, a 4casing having inlet `.and outlet -portsf at the! top thereof, a tube mounted atione end in communication withthe inletfport and the opposite end of the tube' terminating fin -spaced relation -tothe bottom. of the casing randarranged -withlair `discharge orifices `:extending transversely of the dongitudinal.- axis fof f the tube to: direct the lair 30 toward .-theside wall'zof the: casing, a baillesup- ,ported by .the tubeand having a solid wallcportion extending inA spacedfrelation' to; and; transversely .of-theaairdischarge orices: of the: tube to .collect moisture. from the; air"discha'rged from; said discharge.1.orices and5 arranged for the drainage loi' .the F collected moisture into kthe .z bottom of 'I the casing, i: and 'z-.a cylindrical :illtering element in spaced relation betweert .thesidewallA of the casing and the tube and the space between 4the ,lteringzelement'and the'tube having one end closedbythe'fba'fiiearid theoppos'ite en'd in communication with the outlet port of the casing.

2."In`an.=.air filter-and fmoisture separatoras claimed in claim' 1,=a1second baille 'supportedI by the Vtube below ltheilrst i ba'fe to Iextend between said rst baille and the 4bottom ofthe casingto direct moisture`freed air to the space between the iiltering element and the casing and maintain` 'the separation of "the air. and moisture.

`3.`l n'an" air illter and. moisture separator as claimed in claiml, adrain'age outlet in the bottom of the casing having a horizontally extending inlet.portion opening to the casing andan outletportio'n extending verticallythrough the wall ofthe casing.

4. In'an.air"lter and moistureseparator, a casinglhavinglinlet and outlet. ports .at the top thereof. arranged to. be` connected vin an air conduit, the inlet port .havinga vertical. extension extending 'into Athe casing andarranged Withair discharge orifices extending. in a plane parallel of the ,inlet .and outletports to. directA the .air toward'thersidewall of -thecasing, a baille supportedby the verticalextension and `having `a solid annular wall portionextending b'etween the air. discharge. oricesand -the1 side 4wall -of` the casing to .collect .moisturel from the discharged air.A and .arranged .fordrainage of rthe collected moisture.into .the;bottom.of the casingyanda ,cylindricaLltering element fsupported by the baftleinsspaced relation between the side wall of thebaslng .and the-vertical-extension with one zend` of the, ,spacef-betweenl the filtering ze1ement and the vertical extension closed by the baille and the opposite end of said space in communication with the outlet port or" the casing.

5. In an air lter and moisture separator, a casing having inlet and outlet ports at the top thereof arranged to be connected in an air conduit, a tube mounted at one end in communication with the inlet port to extend into the casing with the opposite end of the tube spaced from the bottom of the casing and arranged with a series of air discharge orices extending radially from the Vertical axis of the tube to direct the discharged air toward the side wall of the casing, a cup shaped baille having the closed end supported by the tube with a solid side wall positioned between the air discharge orifices and the side wall of the casing to collect moisture from the discharged air and arranged at the open end for the drainage of the collected moisture into the bottom of the casing, and a cylindrical illtering element clamped between the top of the casing and the closed end of the baille in spaced relation between the tube and the side wall of the casing with the lower end of the space between the tube and illtering element closed by the closed end of the baille and the upper end of said space communicating with the outlet port of the casing.

6. In an air lter and moisture separator as claimed in claim 5, a second baille of plate form supported by the tube in spaced relation to the open end of the cup shaped baille to extend between said cup shaped baille and the bottom of the casing with the periphery of the second baille spaced from the side wall of the leasing to guide moisture freed air to the space between the ltering element and the side wall of the casing and maintain the separation of the air and moisture.

7. An air filter and moisture separator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the peripheral portion of the second baille extends in an oblique direction from the bottom face thereof to facilitate the drainage of the collected moisture from the ilrst baille into the bottom of the casing.

8. An air illter and moisture separator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the free end portion of the side wall of the cup shaped baille is curved inwardly toward the open end of the baille to form an annular moisture collecting basin leading to said open end for drainage of moisture into the bottom of the casing.

9. An air filter and moisture separator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the free end portion of the side wall of the cup shaped baille is curved inwardly to arcuate shape in cross section to form an annular basin and having an opening in an intermediate portion of said annular basin for the drainage of moisture into the bottom oi' the casing.

10. In an air lter and moisture separator, a casing having inlet and outlet ports at the top thereof arranged for connection in an air conduit, a tube mounted at one end in communication with the inlet port and extended into the casing with the free end spaced from the bottom of the casing, a nozzle member having air discharge orices in the side wall thereof and mounted on the free end of the tube with the air discharge orices extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the tube and spaced from the side wall of the casing, a cup shaped baille mounted on the nozzle member with the side wall extending in spaced relation between the air discharge orifices and the side wall of the casing t0 collect moisture from the discharged air and the open end of the baille arranged for the drainage of the collected moisture into the bottom of the casing, and a cylindrical illtering element mounted between the top of the casing and the baille in spaced relation between the tube and the side wall of the casing and the lower end of the space between the tube and filtering element closed by the closed end of the baille and the upper end of said space communicating with the outlet port of the casing.

11. An air filter and moisture separator as claimed in claim l0, wherein the air discharge orifices are arranged in an enlarged portion oi the nozzle member intermediate the ends of said member, and a coupling member internally screw threaded for mounting the nozzle member on the free end oi the tube with the closed end of the baille clamped between the coupling member and the enlarged portion of the nozzle member.

12. An air lter and moisture separator as claimed in claim l0, wherein the nozzle member is provided with an axial projection extending through the open end of the baille, and a second baille of plate form mounted on said nozzle projection to extend in opposed spaced relation to the open end of the cup shaped baille.

13. In an air illter and moisture separator, a head having horizontally alined air inlet and outlet ports arranged for connection in an air conduit, a passage in the head extending from the inlet port to an opening in the center of the bottom oi the head and the outlet port in the head communicating with an opening in the bottom of the head at a side of the center opening in said bottom, an open top receptacle mounted on the bottom of the head with the openings in said bottom communicating with the receptacle, a tube mounted at one end in the center opening in the bottom of the head and extended into the receptacle with the free end of the tube spaced from the bottom of the receptacle and arranged with horizontally extending air discharge orifices, a baille supported by the free end of the tube and arranged with a vertical solid wall extending in spaced relation between the orifices and the side wall of the receptacle to collect moisture from the discharged air and having an outlet for the discharged air and the drainage of the collected moisture into the bottom of the receptacle, and a cylindrical ltering element supported between the bottom of the head and the baille in spaced relation between the tube and side wall of the receptacle with the bottom end of the space between the tube and filtering element closed by the baille and the upper end of said space communicating with the opening in the bottom of the head communicating with the outlet port in the head.

ALBERT L. SEMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,442,689 Loss Jan. 16, 1923 1,468,906 Inman Sept. 25, 1923 2,170,074 Hewett Aug. 22, 1939 2,418,381 Wegmann Apr. 1, 1947 

